How to plaster to perfection!
Gypsum – smooths the way for interiors
If you want an excellent plastering finish, gypsum plaster will deliver that to you with finesse (and it’s kind on your budget!). There are many reasons why gypsum plaster is a popular choice for interiors. The first is that is produces an excellent finish!
Smooth interiors
Gypsum plastering is well suited to the velvety smooth look of modern interiors,
and it’s a technique that has stood the test of time.
When mixed with water, this white, ready-made powder produces a smooth surface immediately on application.
Gypsum plaster is extracted from gypsum rock and later dehydrated to obtain the powder form. It is quick-setting, doesn’t shrink like cement plaster, and it keeps homes cool in summer and warm in winter because of its low thermal conductivity. It also protects your walls and ceilings from mould and is highly resistant to fire!
For all its aesthetic benefits, its resounding success is that it saves on costs, that’s why home owners and developers prefer it: no need to spend extra time and money on preparing, levelling or smoothing the finishes. It doesn’t require water curing like cement plaster does, and downtime is reduced as it dries much faster in comparison.
Not for damp!
The golden rule is:
Gypsum plasters are for ‘dry’ interior surfaces only!
- Areas such as bathrooms and kitchens are not suited for gypsum plastering because it is not
resistant to moisture. - Balconies and any exteriors should be cement plastered
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH GYPSUM PLASTER?
Gypsum plaster is heated at specific temperatures to get different types of plasters. TAL has a
leading range of four multipurpose finishing plasters:
It is handy to note the versatility of this range which can be applied to a variety of different surfaces,
including drywall boards, ceiling boards, sand and cement plastered walls.
Watch here for a step-by-step video on how to apply TAL gypsum plaster.
METACOTE PLUS
A combined basecoat and finishing plaster for internal application
Metacote Plus is a lightweight building material with a wide range of construction and renovation applications:
Home improvement projects: Provides a highly polished smooth surface, brush finish, or textured finish.
Construction industry: Used for internal application i.e. brickwork, concrete blocks, drywalling, and as a finishing plaster for sand cement base coats.
Available in a 40kg bag.
Mixing instructions
- Water / plaster ratio: 0.55 – 0.65
- Add 40kg to 22 – 26 litres of water
- Allow to soak for 5 minutes
- Mix until lump-free to a smooth paste
How to apply
- Apply to clean surface
- Sprinkle water onto sand and cement surface
- Apply onto the surface with a steel or rubber faced float
- After 20 – 30 minutes level with steel float
- After 45 – 55 minutes wet float with carpet or rubber faced float
- After 60 – 70 minutes final finishing to smooth surface by scraping with steel float
- Do not mix more product than you can use in 30 minutes
- Do not apply less than 3mm thick
Coverage of 20 kg:
12.5m2 for 3mm thick
5.75m2 for 5 – 6mm thick
Coverage of 40 kg:
25m2 for 3mm thick
11.5m2 for 5 – 6mm thick
Pot life (mixed): 40 – 70 minutes
Initial set: Cement needle test 55 – 75 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Final set: Cement needle test 75 – 105 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Open time: 20 – 40 minutes
Drying time on board: 24 – 48 hours
METACOTE COASTAL
For humid coastal conditions
Metacote Coastal is a multipurpose gypsum based skimming plaster used to skim various surfaces to give a smooth continuous look.
Similar to Metacote Plus, this lightweight building material has a wide range of construction and renovation applications and is specifically formulated for coastal regions. It provides a highly polished smooth surface, a brush finish, or a textured finish.
Available in a 40kg bag.
Mixing instructions
- Water / plaster ratio: 0.55 – 0.65
- Add 40 kg to 22 – 26 litres of water
- Allow to soak for 5 minutes
- Mix until lump-free to a smooth paste
How to apply
- Water / powder: 55 – 65 ml water /100 g plaster
- Apply to clean surface
- Sprinkle water onto the surface
- Apply onto the surface with a steel trowel
- After 20 – 30 minutes, level with steel trowel
- After 45 – 55 minutes, wet float with carpet or rubber faced float
- After 60 – 70 minutes, final finishing to smooth surface by scraping with steel trowel
- Do not mix more product than you can use in 60 minutes
- Do not apply less that 3mm thick
- Application can very between 3 – 75 mm in multiple coats
Coverage of 40 kg: 25m2 for 3mm thick OR 11.5m2 for 5 – 6mm thick
Pot life (mixed): 40 – 70 minutes
Initial set: Cement needle test 65 – 90 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Final set: Cement needle test 75 – 130 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Open time: 20 – 30 minutes
Drying time on board: 24 – 48 hours (weather dependent)
METAJOINT PLUS
A thin skim finishing plaster used as a smooth filler
Metajoint Plus is used for internal applications:
- as a smooth filler for jointing and bedding,
- to fill in a drywall screw spots,
- as an internal crack filler to cover cracks and imperfections.
This product is a formulated and retarded gypsum hemihydrate jointing plaster and complies to the Standard DIN EN 13279-1 Category C6: thin coat finishing product.
Available in a 20kg bag.
- Water / plaster ratio: 0.45 – 0.50
- Add 20 kg to 9 – 10 litres of water
- Allow to soak for 5 minutes
- Mix until lump-free to a smooth paste
How to apply:
- Apply to clean surfaces of drywall gypsum board and ceilings
- Cover joint with self-adhesive mesh fabric
- Sprinkle water onto the surface
- Apply Metajoint onto surface with a steel or rubber faced float
- Apply 2 coats if necessary, allowing products to set between applications
- After complete drying, sand to desired finish, or plaster the entire surface with Metacote
- Do not mix more product than you can use in 60 minutes
Coverage of 40 kg: 35 – 40 linear metre per bag
Pot life (mixed): 60 – 80 minutes
Initial set: Cement needle test 90 – 105 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Final set: Cement needle test 120 – 140 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Drying time on board: 4 – 6 hours
METACRETE
A thin skim finishing plaster for internal
Perfect for a thin skim 2 – 6mm, Metacrete is used to skim already level substrates to achieve a smooth continuous look on internal applications such as drywall boards, ceiling boards, and as a finish onto sand and cement plastered walls.
Metacrete is a formulated and retarded gypsum hemihydrate finishing plaster which complies to the Standard DIN EN 13279-1. Category C6.
Available in a 40kg bag.
- Water/plaster ratio: 0.55 – 0.65
- Add 40 kg to 22 – 26 litres of water
- Allow to soak for 5 minutes
- Mix until lump-free to a smooth paste
How to apply
- Apply to clean surface
- Sprinkle water onto sand and cement surface
- Apply onto the surface with a steel trowel between 2 – 6mm thick
- After 20 – 30 minutes level with steel trowel
- Continue to smooth surface with steel trowel until smooth
- Do not rubber/carpet float
- Do not mix more product than you can use in 30 minutes
- Avoid damp areas and areas with high moisture content
Coverage of 40 kg:
25m² for 3mm thick
11.5m² for 5 – 6mm thick
Pot life (mixed): 40 – 70 minutes
Initial set: Cement needle test 55 – 75 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Final set: Cement needle test 75 – 105 minutes (DIN EN 13279-2)
Open time: 20 – 40 minutes
Contact TAL’s Technical Advice Line as your go-to resource for advice on gypsum plastering
Call us for support on 0860 000 825 or email us at [email protected].
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